Mounting device for machine guns



' May 275 1941. I J, c, TRQTTER 2,243,365

MOUNTING DEVICE FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Nov. 24, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.I.

I gmw y 1941- J. c. TROTTER 2,243,365

MOUNTING DEVICE FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Nov. 24, 1939 3 Sheets Sheet 2 swam JOHN C. TROTTER y 21, 1941. J. TROT ER 2,243,365 7 MOUNTING DEVICE FOR MACHINE GUNS '3 Sheets-Sheet 3v FIG.3.

Patented May 27, 1941 MOUNTING DEVICE FOR MACHINE GUNS John C. Trotter, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Bell Aircraft Corporation, Bulfalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York 8 Claims In general the present invention relates to machine guns and more specifically to a mount for twin machine guns which is provided with means for the disposal of the ejected cartridge cases and links. Although my invention is illustrated and described in connection with twin .30 caliber machine guns for use in aircraft, tanks and armored cars, or the like, it is of broader scope and can be used-for other purposes and with any caliber gun.

Heretofore no practical devices have been employedto dispose of and collect the ejected so that they can be reused, and my device conveys the links to a suitable collecting device wherein they remain in good condition and can be reused.

An object of this invention is to provide a mount for twin machine guns, which also pro- -vides means for conveying the ejected links to a container or the like from which they can be collected for reuse.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a unitary structure a frame having means for the disposal of the elected cases and links.

To achieve the above and other objects, my

invention in general comprises a pair of light weight cradles supporting twin machine guns which are carried by a mount that is adapted to be swiveled in a socket in the aircrait or tank. The'mount also has formed therewith a chute or the like which is in communication with the link ejector slots of the machine guns and into which the ejected links from both guns are adapted to fall. A container such as a bag is fitted. around the lower open end of the chute for collecting the ejected links.

In the drawings in which like numerals designate the same or similar parts.

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating my invention. i

Figure 2 is a view in side'elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmental view in side elevation illustrating the ejection slot when them are elevated upwardly. a

' shown at II.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the position of the slot when the guns aremoved downwardly.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it can be seen that my mounting means comprises a vertical support I having a pair of parallel light weight cradles [associated with its upper extremity. A machine gun 3 is carried by each of the cradles. that the construction and operation of the cradles, firing handles, recoil, absorbing units, etc., have been fully described and illustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 303,283, filed November '7, 1939, for Mount for machine guns, I will ,not repeat the description in this application.

It can be seen from Figure 3 that the support I comprises a hollow drum 4 which is cut away posed on opposite sides of the drum t thus closing the cut away portion 5, and being supported by the pin I. A saddle 9 is attached .to each end of the pin 1 as shown at I0 and each of the cradles 2 is suitably secured to its respective saddle as Since the cradles are attached to the pin 1, it is clear that they are rotatably mounted for vertical movement so that the gims 3 may .be fired in an upward or. downward direction.

Integrally formed with the drum and extending downwardly therefrom is a chute I2 that is provided with an oflset discharge mouth I 3. An extension I4 is integrally formed with the chute I2 andis provided with a vertical bore I5. The upper end of a spindle I6 is fitted into the bore I5 and the lower end of the spindle is positioned in a socket or the like to permit the support tohave a swiveling movement.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4 each disc 8 is formed with a slot that is elongatedso that the cartridge links will be ejected at any recoil position of the guns. The slot 20 is ada te to be spaced from and in alignment with a link ejector slot 2I provided in the machine gun. It will be appreciated that the slots 20 and 2I will always be in alignment regardless of'whether the guns are firing in a forward, upward, or downward direction." Since the upper portion of the drum '4 is cut away as designated by the numeral 5, the links passing through the aperture 20 will of course be deposited in the drum 5 from whence they will move into the chute I2. In general, the

In view of the fact cut-away portion is of such size that the slot 29 "till he in communication therewith for 20 movement of the guns either above or below the horizontal. Consequently, regardless of the direction in which the guns are firing, the ejected links will always pass into the chute i2 and a collecting device such as a bag can be attached to the mouth 33 of the chute for collecting the ejected links.

it is believed apparent from the above description of my invention that I have provided a highly effective means for collecting the cartridge links ejected by twin machine guns. The device is simple in construction, light in weight, and forms part of the framework for supporting the guns. By being positioned between the twin guns, it consumes very little space and addi tionally forms a portion of the mount for attaching the guns for swiveling the guns for swiveling movement in the airplane.

While I have shown and described the preierred embodiment of my invention, 1 wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set orth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

i. In a twin machine gun assembly for use in aircraft or the like, a support adapted to be swiveled in the aircraft, cradles for carrying the machine guns, the cradles being attached to the support on opposite sides thereof, said support having means for admitting cartridge links ejected from the machine guns into the support.

2. In a twin machine gun assembly for use in aircraft or the like, a hollow vertical support adapted to he swiveled in the aircraft, cradles for carrying the machine guns, the cradles being attached to the support on opposite sides thereof, said support having means for admitting cartridge links ejected from the machine guns into the support. I

3. In a twin machine gun assembly for use in aircraft or the like, a vertical support adapted to he swiveled in the aircraft and provided with a downwardly extending chute, cradles for 08.1"

aaaaecs rying the machine guns, the cradles being at tached to the support on opposite sides thereof. said support having means to admit the cartridge links ejected from the machine guns into the chute.

In a twin machine gun assembly for use in aircraft or the like, a vertical support adapted to he swiveled in the aircraft and provided with an offset downwardly extending chute, cradles for supporting the machine guns attached to the upper end of the support on opposite sides thereof, and the upper portion oi said support having a slot through which cartridge links ejected from the machine guns are adapted to pass.

5. In a machine gun assembly for use in aircraft, a hoilow vertical support adapted to be.

swiveled at its lower extremity in the aircraft and provided with an offset downwardly extending chute, cradles for carrying the machine guns, said cradles loeing mounted on the support on. opposite sides thereof, and the upper portion of the support having a slot through which the cartridge links ejected from the machine guns are adapted to pass.

6.. A twin machine gun assembly for use in aircraitpr the like, comprising a hollow vertical support adapted to he swivelled at its lower end in the aircraft and provided with an oiiset down= wardly extending chute, and means iorming cradles to mount the machine guns on the support, the upper end of the support having slots to admit cartridge links ejected from the machine guns into the downwardly extending chute. 7. A twin machine gun assembly, comprising a. support constructed to receive cartridge cases and links, and cradles for carrying the machine guns attached to the support on opposite sides thereof, said support having slot means through which the links ejected from the machine guns are adapted to pass. I

8. A twin machine gun. assembly, comprising a support constructed to receive cartridge cases and links, and cradles for carrying the machine guns attached to the support on opposite sides thereoi, the upper portion or the support having slots, through which the cartridge links ejected from the machine guns are adapted to pass.

JOHN C. 'rnoi'rrsn. 

